Looking at TIFF to GRAY? Here's why GRAY isn't a standard "save as" target — and what to use.
GRAY isn't a normal image format — it's a headerless raw pixel buffer, so there's no meaningful "convert TIFF to GRAY".
A GRAY file is just a stream of raw pixel values (grayscale samples) with no width, height or color information stored inside. Anything opening it has to be told the exact dimensions and layout separately — so it isn't a portable image you can simply convert to.
For an image you can actually open and share, pick a standard format that stores its own dimensions and color — PNG, JPG or WEBP.
TIFF is a high-quality, often lossless raster format used in photography, scanning and print. Files are large but preserve maximum detail.
How to open TIFF opens in Photoshop, GIMP, Preview and professional imaging software.
Full TIFF format guideGRAY (Raw Grayscale Pixels) is a raster image format developed by Various around 1980s. It's a specialised format — converting to a mainstream format like JPG or PNG makes it easy to open and share anywhere.
How to open GRAY files open in specialised software and some professional tools; for everyday use, convert GRAY to JPG or PNG.
Full GRAY format guide